“Mack’s mDRIVE transmissions serve a wide range of customers, including those with demanding paving and concrete applications,” said Tim Wrinkle, Mack construction product manager. “Now updated with rolling start and auto neutral, mDRIVE transmissions are even better suited to those tasks.”
Mack mDRIVE rolling start allows drivers to shift the transmission into drive without pressing the truck’s service brakes. This eliminates the possibility of creating a bump in the paving surface, which is a critical benefit for paving applications.
Several construction applications, including concrete mixers, rely on remote throttle controls. By automatically shifting the mDRIVE into neutral when the parking brake is set, Mack mDRIVE auto neutral helps improve jobsite safety by reducing the possibility of the truck moving due to throttle application.
Engineered to work exclusively with Mack’s MP® series engines, mDRIVE and mDRIVE HD automated manual transmissions are a key component of the Mack integrated powertrain, boosting efficiency, productivity and performance.
“Thanks to the performance, productivity and fuel efficiency benefits mDRIVE transmissions deliver, customers are increasingly choosing them for their applications,” Wrinkle said. “In fact, mDRIVE transmissions are now the most popular choice in a Mack.”
In 2016, mDRIVE transmissions were spec’d in a record percentage of Mack models, making mDRIVE the most dominant transmission across Mack’s complete lineup of heavy-duty trucks for the first time ever.
Mack mDRIVE and mDRIVE HD penetration reached record levels in Mack Pinnacle™ Axle Back and Mack Granite® models sold in the U.S. and Canada, with 80 percent and 20 percent penetration respectively. With the new low-ratio creeper gears and these new features added, Mack is on track to double mDRIVE HD penetration in Granite models in 2017.
Originally introduced in 2010 for highway applications, the Mack mDRIVE transmission transformed trucking by eliminating traditional shifting. With no clutch pedal or shift lever to work, drivers can remain focused on the road ahead. mDRIVE transmissions monitor multiple driving variables through sophisticated software to deliver smooth shifts and automatically select the best gear for conditions. Mack made mDRIVE standard in Pinnacle models in 2014.
The mDRIVE’s benefits didn’t go unnoticed by vocational customers, who sought the efficiency and performance improvements in construction applications. In response to their requests, Mack launched the rugged mDRIVE HD in 2015 and made it standard in Granite models. With reinforced internal components, the mDRIVE HD can withstand the tough demands of vocational applications.
In 2016, Mack expanded its mDRIVE HD offer with two new versions featuring low-ratio creeper gears. The Mack mDRIVE HD 13-speed offers a low reduction gear ratio designed for easier starting on steep grades or when the truck is under heavy load. The Mack mDRIVE HD 14-speed, available only in an overdrive configuration, adds a second ultra-low-speed reduction gear designed for curb pouring applications or low-speed, heavy-haul maneuvering. Both transmissions offer up to four reverse gear ratios.
For more information about mDRIVE rolling start and auto neutral, visit Mack booth No. C-5103 during World of Concrete 2017, Jan. 17 to Jan. 20, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Dedicated to durability, reliability and meeting the needs of customers, Mack Trucks has provided purpose-built transportation solutions for more than a century. Today, Mack is one of North America's largest producers of heavy-duty trucks, and Mack® trucks are sold and serviced through an extensive distribution network in more than 45 countries. Mack trucks, diesel engines and transmissions sold in North America are assembled in the United States. Mack manufacturing locations are certified to the internationally recognized ISO 9001 standard for quality, ISO 14001 standard for environmental management systems and OHSAS 18001 standard for health and safety management systems. Mack is also a proud sponsor of Share the Road, an American Trucking Associations' public information campaign aimed at enhancing the safety of our nation's roadways.
Mack Trucks is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 100,000 people, has production facilities in 18 countries and sells its products in more than 190 markets. In 2015, the Volvo Group's sales amounted to about $37 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.
For more information about Mack, visit our website at www.macktrucks.com
